The Hillsborough County Commision voted 5-2 to approve a new Rays stadium deal.
Assuming the original framework of the deal is not held up in any way, the Rays project to open the 2029 season in a new ballpark. “This has been a long and challenging process,” wrote managing partner and co-chair Patrick Zalupski in a statement, “and we know that transformational projects rarely come easily. Today’s vote represents an extraordinary milestone—not simply for the Rays or for a ballpark, but for the future of Tampa and the entire Tampa Bay region.” The days of the Tropicana catwalks appear to be numbered.